Modiola antarctica Philippi, 1868

Urcola, Matias Ricardo & Zelaya, Diego Gabriel, 2024, The Genus Philobrya J. G. Cooper, 1867 (Bivalvia: Philobryidae) In Patagonia And Adjacent Antarctic Waters, Zootaxa 5437 (2), pp. 151-192 : 185

Modiola antarctica Philippi, 1868

Modiola antarctica Philippi, 1868: 224 .

Remarks: Philippi (1868) described Modiola antarctica based on a specimen from “ Magallanes ” [apparently, the Strait of Magellan]. Soot-Ryen (1959) placed Philippi’s species in the genus Philobrya , suggesting that it might be a synonym of P. magellanica . Bernard (1983) and Huber (2010) followed this synonymy. The original description, however, is vague and lacking of detail for the identification of this species which, in addition, was never figured.

One of the few characters mentioned by Philippi (1868) is the similarity of P. antarctica with juveniles of Modiolus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) . The modioliform shape of the last species would preclude that P. antarctica is identical with P. magellanica which is ovate in outline. In addition, the original description of P. antarctica accounts for the presence of short periostracal setae, arranged in radial lines, a characteristic absent in P. magellanica . Alternatively, P. antarctica could be synonymous with either P. atlantica , P. blakeana or P. brattstromi , three species occurring at the southern tip of South America and showing the above-mentioned characteristics. Unfortunately, the original description of P. antarctica is not conclusive and its type material apparently lost (Oscar Gálvez Herrera, in litt., October 2019). Consequently, P. antarctica is here regarded as a nomen dubium.